OUTRAGED parents in a West Reading block of flats say drugs and prostitution are making their lives hell.

The families, who are too scared of reprisals to give their names, have told how drug problems and prostitution are plaguing Simod Court, in Wantage Road.

The parents have become so worried for their children, they keep them inside to protect them.

One of the mothers told how last summer a young girl trod on a used syringe that had been thrown in the back garden while playing and had to be taken to hospital to be tested for AIDS and Hepatitis B.

Another mother said: "The main door is banging non-stop all night from 6pm until about 4am because of people coming in and out.

"They are sitting in the corridor, drinking beer, have fights and leave blood on the walls, and they use the stairs as a toilet - the other day, someone came right to my front door and weed just outside."

A father living in the block claimed burglars had twice tried to break into his flat in the last few months while he was in with his six-year-old daughter.

A young mum, who has decided to move out with her two-year-old son, said: "I do not feel safe

bringing up my child here, because it's just not on.

"I'm not scared, I just want something to be done. It's in your face and yet nothing is done."

The parents say when they moved into the then newly built flats three years ago, there was no problem.

But they claim it all changed about two years ago and despite repeated complaints to the police and owner Warden Housing Association, based in Reading Road, Winnersh, nothing has been done to sort the problems.

A parent said: "At the housing association, all they say is that they haven't got enough evidence to do anything and that they know how we feel.

"But how the hell do they know? They don't live here."

She added: "You cannot sleep here during the night - I sit up virtually all night to check that my car does not get nicked.

"We do not know what's going to happen to us tomorrow and I don't want to end up dead on the floor."

Tim Hall, one of the association's housing officers, said: "Warden Housing association is very concerned about the problems our residents are experiencing at Simod Court.

"Although we are very sympathetic, situations like this are difficult to tackle as getting frightened residents to come forward and give evidence is understandably a problem.

"However, we are working closely with the local police to find a solution and hopefully this joint approach will prove successful."

Dave Griffiths, police sector inspector for the north west of Reading, said: "We are well aware of the problems experienced by residents in Simod Court and Wantage Road, which are the same problems suffered by a number of decent, law-abiding residents across West Reading.

"The north west sector team is committed to improving the quality of life for Reading and a number of anti-drug and anti-prostitution initiatives have been launched in recent months - these operations are ongoing."

At the end of last month, police arrested almost 50 people in connection with drug dealing, prostitution, street crime and burglary across the Oxford Road area as part of the two-night Operation Eightfold.

Mr Griffiths said: "This operation will be ongoing and we will continue to work with our partners and the community to crack down on the anti-social elements who ruin life for everyone else."